These two were the top two quarterbacks on my final ranking. They are both great passers with underrated running ability. MT is in good shape with these two. I have no snubs or surprises for this position. Alternates for this position included Mitch Norslein (Lewistown), Joe Byorth (Billings Central), and Rylan Ortt (Missoula Sentinel). For full scouting write-ups, follow the "20-11" link above.

Joe got his potentially historic senior season cut short due to braking his arm in Game 6. As I've stated before, he was about 50 yards behind Blake Counts prior to their 6th game and both were on pace for about 2,500 rushing yards. Obviously, Blake set the record and Joe had to watch from the sideline. Glad Joe gets to get back out there and show his skill set. Too bad Blake won't be suiting up for the MT roster but Preston is a solid replacement. He was my 7th ranked RB in the state and an original alternate for the game along with Jack Studer (Billings Central) and Gunner Hegg (Billings Senior). However, other RBs I had ranked ahead of Preston and the other two alternates were Landers Smith (Charlo), Ryan Tirrell (Missoula Loyola), Elias DeWaters (Missoula Sentinel), and Colton McPhee (Columbia Falls). Tirrell declined invite for the game while Landers, Elias, and Colton weren't even alternates for this game...which is puzzling but it is what it is. A lot of players deserve to play in this game each year but don't get selected by the group of coaches making the roster. Anyway, for Joe's write-up, follow the "10-1" link above while Preston's can be found in the "50-41" link.

Jesse Owens was my #1 receiver in the state and you can see his write-up in the "10-1" link above. As for the rest, this position group got almost completely replaced when compared to the initial roster lineup. Allen, Torgerson, and Simpson were all kids I had ranked in my Top 40. Cam Rothie was my #10 receiver in the state but did not make my final Top 50 and was an original alternate for this game. He's a perfect replacement for Kyle Torgerson. Tyson Racht was a Southern B 2nd-Team All-Conference selection at QB/DB his senior year. Marsh was a HM AA All-State selection at WR for Billings West. Josh Neil did not show up on any post-season award list in AA and most of that can be attributed to an injury that nearly cost him his left leg (find more on his journey through this link: https://buttesports.com/butte-highs-jos ... ands-bowl/). Josh is listed as a WR but he was primarily a RB for Butte his senior season. The original alternates for this group were Rothie, Cooper Waters (Missoula Loyola), Anthony Jones (Kalispell Flathead), and Tanner Trafton (Lewistown). I'm assuming those other three declined invites for this game because if they didn't, what is the point of listing alternates for this game? Marsh was an all-state WR on the AA state champion so I get his head coach getting him on the roster. Tyson Racht didn't play WR during his career at Townsend but he's a good all-around athlete...but a kid like Casey Gunlikson is an even better one and was snubbed from the all-star game circuit for some reason. I understand track stars don't always equate to good football players...but Casey was a two-time Class B All-State football player and the fastest athlete in the state of Montana. As for Neil's selection, its a good story and its cool that the coaches still select talented players who lost their senior seasons to injury. Overall, I'm confused by the Racht selection but there were likely a lot of declined invites for kids who chose to play in the Shrine Game instead. UM/MSU coaches push there recruits to choose only one game to play in if they get selected for both so that could've also played a role. Also, some kids just choose to not play in any all-star game and arrive on the college campus early to train with their respective teams.

TE:

Noah Ambuehl (Great Falls Central Catholic)

Ryan Lonergan declined invite to this game but he and Noah were the original selections at TE for this game. Logan Kennedy of Laurel was the original alternate. These three were also my Top 3 TEs in the state and all in my Top 30. Like the QBs, these selections were no-brainers and you can see their write-ups in the links above.

Starting with the center position, Justus and Maverick were my Top 2. Both are legit, college-ready centers and will provide good punch in the run game against the always-large ND defensive line. Carter Slade of Billings West was the lone alternate at center. You can find their write-ups in the 50-31 range. Per the listed roster, the guards will be Nico Young and Sebastian Koch. Both were 1st-Team AA All-State selections their senior seasons and Sebastian signed with Carroll. Both were in my final Top 10 interior lineman ranking. As for tackle, Holden Sampson is the star of the group and you can see his write-up in the "10-1" link. The other two selections are Sam Gray of Billings Central and Keegan Mires of Glendive. Both Gray and Mires were Class A All-State lineman (Gray at OT and Mires at OG). Andrew Siderius was on the original list but he got replaced by Mires. Mires was an original alternate selection but can also give MT another good punting option along with QB Blake Thelen. Both can bomb it! Alternates at the position include Kobe Nelson (Billings West), Spencer Warren (Bozeman), Riley Allen (Flink Creek), and Garrison Poetzl (Billings Senior). Obviosuly, Poetzl's alternate status was more of a recognition thing because he is likely still recovering from his ACL injury suffered during his senior year. Nelson, Warren, and Allen were 1st-Team All-State in each of their respective class levels so all good picks. There are also some good offensive lineman slotted as starters on the defensive line so there are plenty of good options on both sides of the ball to mix and match units.

Last edited by VimSince03 on Thu Jun 13, 2019 4:53 pm, edited 1 time in total.

1st-Team AA All-State defensive lineman Patrick Hammond was an original selection for the game but will be replaced by 3-time AA All-State Alaric Greil. Actually, I was surprised Alaric wasn't chosen in the first place and that was likely due to his lack of sacks his senior season. Ethan, Connor, and Marcus are all fantastic selections. Marcus was my #1 DE in my final ranking. Connor was my #2 interior offensive and defensive lineman in the state. Ethan was my #7 ranked DE and was a top sack master in AA his senior season. Overall, this is a very physical, stout group. I would've liked to see Garrett Brown of Corvallis get a nod on the DL but these four are excellent picks. Other alternates included Carter Hughes of Sidney, Nick Konesky of CMR, and Mason Harrison of Lewistown.

My #1 LB in the state (Tirrell) declined the invite to this game but the roster still boasts my #2 (Johnson), #8 (Lindsay), #9 (Evanson), and #11 (Jameson). Hulan Edwards was an original alternate and got the nod to come play for his high school coach one more time. Other alternates included Cole Crosby (Kalispell Glacier), Brody Grebe (Roundup), Riley Dickinson (GFCC), Tyler Walker (Dillon), and Michael Nehring (Manhattan). In my opinion, Brody Grebe should have 100% been an original selection when this list came out in late December. I'm also very puzzled that Colten McPhee got no recognition despite being one of the best linebackers and tacklers in the state. I guess I just disagree with two linebackers from Billings West getting a chance to play in this game over a slew of other kids that were more deserving from other class levels (Grebe and McPhee.) However, make no mistake...these five athletes can ball out and each are very versatile in where they can play. Max can take reps at outside and inside backer while also rushing the passer at end. Alex played nearly every position on defense with maybe the exception of nose tackle for Helena High. JJ and Hulan were the primary inside backers when West ran nickel so they are used to be the guys lined up over the guards. Wes is also interchangeable at outside or inside backer. Anyway, there was likely some good discussion about who got the nod at LB in this group of players but it was a deep position group in 2018 and it should play out that way on Saturday night.

For my money this is the most talented group on the roster. Dixon and Gradney were my Top 2 CB's in the state and my #4 and #7 recruits, respectively. Spiroff and Wilcox were my #5 and #7 corners in the state, respectively. Gibb was the AA Defensive Player of the Year and a Top 20 recruit in my final ranking. MacNeil was a Top 40 recruit in my final ranking and is one of the more versatile athletes on the roster on both sides of the ball. Brusven and Hirsch can play safety or corner while providing a physical presence against the run. The original alternates included Cade Dschaak (Wibaux), Duncan Kraft (Billings Central), Tucker Greenwell (CMR), and Jake Clinton (Lewistown). Overall, I felt Tucker Greenwell got snubbed at safety and I would've put him in over Hirsch or Brusven. He was a 3-time AA All-State selection at safety and was a special teams ace as a return specialist and gunner. But really that's it. Not having Ryder at safety does hurt the talent a little but Gibb and Macneil should hold up on the back end really well. I also expect Hirsch, Brusven, or even Wilcox get reps at safety. Corner is loaded with Dixon, Gradney, and Spiroff.

Vim I have attended these games for 20 years. Every year I compare the rosters for months trying to figure out how Montana can possibly beat the ND team. Year in and year out, including this years Team ND has 6 players bigger than Team Montana’s biggest player and then they have 4 more bigger than our 2nd biggest player. Without a doubt the Montana players are year in and year out faster, stronger and way more athletic than the NoDakers. The past 2 games of 63-0 and 55-7 are proof positive of the athletes from Montana being far superior to ND. The average margin of victory for team Montana’s 19 wins is 17.36 and ND 6 wins are by 8.16. Montana has 3 shutouts and 10 of the 19games ND scored less than 9 points. While Montana has scored 21points or more 19 times and 40 points or more 9 times. Every year half of the best talent in Montana doesn’t play in this game and I’m sure ND has the same issue. Would love to hear commentary on this.

In this world theres 2 types of people my friend those with loaded guns and those who dig......you dig! Clint Eastwood ( the Good the Bad and the Ugly )

It was actually Thelen who threw the second TD (first to Owens). I really liked how Brown and Thelen attacked the middle of the field/up the seam last Saturday. ND couldn't cover Owens or Rothie for four quarters.